118. One Heart, One Will

Arriving at the Marquess’s estate in Klaus’s carriage, Roselia stepped down onto the ground.

Seeing Klaus following behind her, she quickly waved a hand.

“You don’t have to get out.”

Despite her words, Klaus stood before her with his usual unreadable expression.

“I’ll leave after I see you enter the estate.”

At his firm tone, Roselia let out a sigh, giving him a small nod before turning toward the entrance.

As she walked away, Klaus, who had been silently watching her, suddenly spoke up again.

“If you’re thinking of going up against Prince Alphonse, then use me instead.”

His unexpected words made Roselia stop and turn back toward him.

Klaus met her gaze with an unwavering, resolute expression.

“Don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger. Use me.”

He was telling her not to reveal her identity as an imperial-blooded woman.

But… “Use me”?

Of all things, the last thing Roselia wanted was to get tangled up with Klaus.

He was already walking a dangerous line with the Rugbeljet affair—she couldn’t involve him in something as perilous as imperial succession struggles on foreign soil.

Lowering her head without a word, Roselia turned and walked into the estate.

Klaus remained standing there for a long time, silently watching her retreating figure.

* * *

“What do you mean?”

Roselia frowned deeply as she questioned Johannes, who had just returned from the imperial palace. They were having a simple tea together, but the atmosphere had grown tense.

At her sharp tone, Johannes sighed heavily, his expression dark.

“The imperial court is already working to expand the concubine faction’s influence. With that woman, Nora, having turned half of the neutral nobles to their side, they’re taking advantage of the momentum while they can.”

“But this business was already approved by Her Majesty the Empress…!”

“In truth, trade affairs have always been under Prince Alphonse’s jurisdiction. The Bellog Trading Company project was an exceptional case, spearheaded by House Euciliod instead. But there’s no way Prince Alphonse would simply let that slide.”

Roselia’s expression contorted in frustration.

“So, they’re planning to snatch up a fully planned and negotiated business venture?”

“Not yet. For now, they’ve only filed a complaint… But Prince Alphonse will undoubtedly demand negotiations.”

There was no chance of reasoning with him.

House Euciliod, a pillar of the Empress’s faction, had always been at odds with the concubine faction.

Now, with Nora’s arrival strengthening Alphonse’s supporters, it was clear they wouldn’t even pretend to listen to Johannes.

Grinding her teeth in frustration, Roselia suddenly stood up.

As she hurriedly threw on her coat, preparing to leave, Johannes looked at her in surprise.

“W-Where are you going?”

Slipping on a fitted jacket over her neatly ruffled blouse, Roselia met Johannes’s gaze with determined eyes.

“No matter how powerful Prince Alphonse is, he can’t ignore the voices of the trading companies. House Euciliod only serves as a mediator— but the actual business is run by the trading companies from Benuve and Mule.”

As she approached the door, Johannes let out a sigh, his expression a mix of resignation and amusement.

“You’re planning to meet Marquis Bellog, aren’t you?”

Roselia boldly responded as she stepped forward.

“And Prince Asif. And Duke Valtazar.”

* * *

The three men sat awkwardly in Marquis Bellog’s room at the Valtazar Hotel, their expressions tense.

Marquis Bellog, the representative of the Kingdom of Mule and owner of the Bellog Trading Company.
Prince Asif, the representative of the Kingdom of Benuve and the leader of Benuve’s trading companies.
And Duke Klaus Valtazar, responsible for overseeing the trade route development through Mule with Bellog Trading Company.

None of them seemed comfortable in this meeting.

Looking at their stiff faces, Roselia calmly began speaking.

“Some of you may have already heard. Prince Alphonse has set his sights on the trading company project spearheaded by House Euciliod.”

At Roselia’s straightforward words, Bellog and Klaus remained silent, clearly already aware of the situation.
Asif, however, reacted with disbelief.

“What? We already finalized the deal, and now he wants to swoop in and take it?!”

“To be exact, he wants to push House Euciliod out and have the project run under his authority instead.”

Asif’s mouth fell open in shock, while Bellog, who had been hesitating with his head lowered, finally spoke cautiously.

“Actually… I received an offer first.”

At those words, all eyes turned to Bellog.

Avoiding their gazes, he continued in a subdued tone.

“They promised that if I worked with Prince Alphonse instead of House Euciliod, they would open up a trade route to Delphorge.”

The Kingdom of Delphorge was the homeland of Queen Gwenhella, Alphonse’s mother.

It was a wealthy nation, known for its abundant supply of rare minerals and magic stones.

For the Kingdom of Mule, which had long been isolated by the Fjord Mountains and accustomed to a more frugal lifestyle, it was an incredibly tempting offer.

But there was no way Roselia would allow Alphonse to snatch away something already in their hands.

She turned to Bellog, her expression steady.

“Marquis Bellog, do you remember our first conversation about this business?”

Bellog lifted his head, looking confused.

Holding his gaze, Roselia continued in a clear, unwavering tone.

“You went to Prince Alphonse, pleading for his support. And what did he do? He coldly rejected you.

And the project he dismissed?
I saw its potential and approached you instead.”

Bellog’s eyes wavered as he recalled the past.

“Only those who understand business and art can recognize their true worth.

Prince Alphonse doesn’t have that insight.

The opportunity was already laid at his feet, and he threw it away.

Now, ask yourself—do you want to work with someone who doesn’t recognize value, just because he’s suddenly interested?

Or would you rather work with someone who sees your true worth?”

Bellog lowered his head in silence.

Even Klaus and Asif remained quiet, watching him.

Finally, Bellog let out a deep sigh and muttered in a barely audible voice.

“…I was a fool to waver, even for a moment. I’m sorry, Viscount.”

At those words, Roselia’s stiff expression finally softened.

Asif, watching the exchange, casually added his own remark.

“Not that it matters. If **Marquis Bellog had sided with Prince Alphonse, I wouldn’t have stayed in this deal either.”

Bellog looked up, shocked.

“W-What?”

Asif smirked.

“How could I trust a business partner who betrays their allies?”

Bellog slowly lowered his head, finally understanding.

Still looking unimpressed, Asif turned toward Klaus with a challenging expression.

“I doubt Prince Alphonse ignored Duke Valtazar in all of this…”

At that, everyone’s eyes turned to Klaus.

But even under their scrutiny, Klaus remained completely unfazed, casually crossing his legs as he took a sip of tea.

Roselia, worried about his response, watched him cautiously.

Only then did Klaus set his teacup down and speak.

“This trade project isn’t just about opening a Mule trade route. It’s also a project that involves my own lands and the Valtazar trade routes.

Prince Alphonse has no authority to interfere.”

At his words, both Roselia and Bellog visibly relaxed.

Only Asif, still dissatisfied, scowled at Klaus’s ever-unshaken demeanor.

Roselia nodded firmly, satisfied with the consensus.

“Since we’re all on the same page, I’ll inform House Euciliod that the business will proceed as planned, with me overseeing the mediation.”

Both Bellog and Asif nodded in agreement.

* * *

After discussing the trading company project, Roselia felt relieved and left Valtazar Hotel with a lighter heart.

However, as she stepped into the lobby, she noticed a commotion near the reception counter.

A group of rough-looking strangers had entered the hotel, causing quite a stir.

Their tattered and worn-out attire looked completely out of place in Valtazar Hotel’s luxurious setting.

“I’m sorry, sir, but without proof of identity, we cannot offer free lodging at this hotel,” the hotel staff explained.

“Come on! We told you—we’re an envoy from Zelos! Our ship was wrecked, and we barely escaped with our lives. Do you really think we had time to save our documents?”

“I understand, but… unless you have something to verify your identity, we cannot offer free lodging.”

It seemed like they were trying to get a room without paying.

Now that she looked closer, the group of around a dozen men indeed dressed differently from the people of Raphelios or the neighboring kingdoms.

Their clothing was torn and tattered, making it hard to discern, but it vaguely resembled Benuve’s fashion.

No… It looked more like traditional Eastern attire.

Roselia’s curiosity piqued at the sight.

Before she had reincarnated, she had lived in an East Asian country—and something about these men felt strangely familiar to her.

“What’s going on here?”

As someone closely acquainted with Duke Klaus Valtazar and Claucet, the official owner of Valtazar Hotel, Roselia’s sudden intervention startled the hotel staff.

“S-Sorry for the disturbance, my lady! These men claim to be an envoy, but they have no money or proof of identity…”

Roselia turned her gaze back toward the group of rugged men.

At the front, a tall man with long black hair caught her attention.

Unlike the others, who were loudly protesting, he stood silently in the background—but she could tell he was the leader.

His appearance, with his sharp features and poised stance, reminded her of the warrior bodyguards from historical dramas.

She couldn’t help but admire him internally before snapping back to reality.

Reaching into her inner pocket, Roselia took out a pouch of money and handed it to the staff.

“Take this and give them a decent room.”

“P-Pardon? But my lady, we can’t possibly accept your money—”

“It’s fine. Just show them to a room.”

At her gentle smile, the hotel staff reluctantly accepted the money.

The long-haired man, who had been silently observing, finally stepped forward and spoke.

“Thank you. I will repay this debt.”

He brought his hands together in a traditional salute, an unfamiliar gesture in this region.

Roselia gave a slightly awkward smile in response.

“You’ve come a long way, crossing the Western Sea. I hope you find a good opportunity here.”

At her words, the man’s face froze in shock.

The Zelos Continent had notoriously strict laws, where even the smallest crime could result in a lifetime in prison.

Roselia had read in history books that some fugitives risked their lives to cross the sea and escape.

Based on their appearance, she had simply guessed as much.

As she walked away with a kind smile, the long-haired man watched her retreating figure in stunned silence.

Then, with an exasperated chuckle, he let out a breath, almost amused by her remark.

TL/N:I see this novel like this

 

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